Textile Wash Tunnel

A continuous industrial laundry washer in which batches of laundry move through successive pre-wash, wash and rinse compartments.

A wash tunnel, also called a continuous batch washer, is a long drum divided into modules. Each batch of laundry enters at one end and, at regular intervals, moves on to the next module, so the tunnel works with several batches at once, each at a different stage: pre-wash, main wash, rinses and, where applicable, finishing. The rinse water usually flows counter-current, that is, in the opposite direction to the laundry, and is reused in the previous modules, which reduces water and energy consumption per kilo of laundry compared with conventional washing machines. On exit, a press or a centrifuge extracts the water and the laundry goes on to the dryers or the calender.

It is the usual solution in industrial laundries that process large volumes of similar laundry, such as flatwork from hotels and hospitals. For small, highly varied batches or soiling that requires specific programmes, conventional washer-extractors are used.

Chemical products are dosed automatically into specific modules of the tunnel, and the temperature and time of each stage are set in the programme. Because the bath is reused and the laundry is transferred between modules, foam must be controlled. Water hardness affects the washing result and the formation of scale, so it is taken into account when choosing and dosing the detergent.

More information: Industrial calender and dryer · Industrial washing machine